Blade Profile Preferences & Why?

[Rotte]

Jman, have you tried a Fiddleback Kephart? How would that size and profile work for you in New England?

 

[Rotte]

Thanks for the assist, VANCE.

Is the KPH still in production? Awesome little knife.

 

[VANCE]

Thanks for the assist, VANCE.

Is the KPH still in production? Awesome little knife.

no problem
it is...


if you ever wanna get rid of that old one i can hook you up w/ a shiny new one

im just sayin

 

[Rotte]

Oh, HELL NO!

But I'l keep an eye out for a new one.

 

[VANCE]

Oh, HELL NO!

But I'l keep an eye out for a new one.

it was worth a shot.

 

[theJman]

Jman, have you tried a Fiddleback Kephart? How would that size and profile work for you in New England?

I live in the NW corner of Jersey, so I spend most of my time there or in the NE section of PA. I don't get any woods time in New England unfortunately.

I used to own a Fiddleback Camp Knife, but have never held their Kephart. Judging from the pictures on the website it might be a bit pointy for my needs though. The Duke caught my eye for sure - that's more to my liking, especially considering it has a 5" handle. My hands are a bit larger than most, so the length/width of a handle is something I need to pay close attention to. I'll have to check that one out carefully.

Although it has a blade length about an inch shorter than I prefer, a knife I've lusted after for a while is the Resolute MkIII. If that sucker was at least 5" I would already own one!

 

[Rotte]

My hands are a bit larger than most, so the length/width of a handle is something I need to pay close attention to.

You and me both. A handle can make or break a knife for me. One of the reasons I like Fiddlebacks so much, great handles. Even on a small bladed knife, I want a big handle. It's all about controlling that edge.

 

[Mistwalker]

You haven't convinced me of the virtues of a pointy spear tip. I'm counting on you to develop that argument further. I share your aesthetic sense for clips points. There is a classic quality to them that I find irresistible...but I'm not sure the clip adds a lot of function. I am a huge fan of the Buck 110. I've probably got 5 of them...maybe 6. It is a useful knife and, for me, has stood the test of time. However, I did break the tip of one (when I was younger and more foolish), and the clip always looks a bit...artificial to me. Fill that curved clip in with a straight clip or drop point and I think it's a better knife overall. But I have 5...or 6. I have a few other folders that are better designs (Spydie PM2, Insingo, Osborne Benchmade, etc...), but I carry the Buck 110 more often, just because I like the aesthetics and feel. And it's good enough for most pocket knife jobs.

Well, contrary to some people's opinions I am really not a salesman lol, I'm not so sure I should, much less could, convince you that you need a Kephart. I know that not every knife is for every one. I'm more wondering if with your 110 fetish I shouldn't point out the Lone Star EDC The lower knife in this pic, to pair up with that new Duke or for urban edc.

I never said the Kephart was my all time favorite knife, I don't have a one favorite knife, I have favorites It is, hands down, my favorite bushcrafting knife so far. I never go to the woods without another knife on me that definitely does not focus on bushcraft. One was made by a friend of Andy's that he introduced me to named Paul Brach. It's hand forged from a bar of Cru-Forge and has a sharpened straight clip-point blade 6 inches long and a welded pommel.

Until recently I would have said that the Woodsman was my all time favorite Fiddleback, based on most used = most loved. However, having not even used one yet, only handling a few of them for a while, I am pretty sure the Protagonist is going to be my All time favorite Fiddleback. I told him when he made the Protagonist that I knew it was in there somewhere, and that if I waited long enough he would eventually make a knife that suited the other side of my personality. Will it be good for bushcraft? Not really but I know how to make it work at it if needs be, but then again that's what the Kephart is for

When you say that you don't like the "location of the tip" on a more upswept tip, do you mean that you like the tip to be more in-line with the axis of the knife or lower than the axis of the knife? And why? (Always with the why... )

I prefer the tip on a general purpose knife, and on a bushcraft style knife, to be slightly below the center axis.

 

[Rockywolf]

Rocky, what makes it 'awesome'?

Why, for you, does this knife work so well? Let's argue about why some knife designs seem to work better for us than others. Mistwalker and I were kinda focusing on blade shape or profile, but that is obviously just one element of knife design. So what makes the Fiddleback Kephart so good? What does that design do well? Does it have any short comings?

I'm kinda looking at a theory that the knife we are practiced at using is the design that works for us. Function follows form as much as form follows function. If we had all grown up using Ulus, perhaps that would seem like the ultimate design. Most 'skinners' have a lot of belly or curve; I knew a guy who swore by a standard utility knife with replaceable blades. Not much different from the well known and used Wyoming Knife. Totally different approaches, same results. So does design really matter that much? Is it all down to personal preference and aesthetic appeal?

It's the length of blade coupled with shape of blade. I like that the point is centered with handle. The slight guard is fine but not imperative. Handle size and shape are comfortable without being too small or too skinny. Contours are nicely hand filling without being overexaggerated. In fact, the subtleness of the knife is one of my favorite things. It doesn't scream tactical or fantasy knife, the loudest thing about it is the color of the handle (red).

The shortcoming is the lack of sharp spine. I can live with that...because the strengths are plenty: thickish point, comfortable handle in different grips, very controllable blade length, and an easily sharpened blade. I've only had it a week so I'm sure more will arise as usage grows.